District 10 candidates meet with Cy-Fair Chamber

Steve Love

Published 6:00 pm, Tuesday, February 10, 2004

Dave Phillips is a resident of Cypress. He's a veteran of the armed forces as well as law enforcement. A successful career in international business, he believes, gives him the experience he needs to represent the community. Just as millions of stockholders trusted him and held him accountable, he believes the public can trust him as well.

Mike McCaul has had a lengthy career in public service. He's held several public offices and also served on the Bush-Cheney transition team. McCaul also said he has the people's trust, as well as that of the politicians he worked for. National security and faith and family issues are they major points of his campaign.

John Devine has also held political offices including that of State District Judge where he ruled that Houstonians had the right to vote on METRO's light rail system. He also successfully defended his own right to display a painting of the Ten Commandments in his courtroom. If elected, he looks forward to joining the ranks of conservative leaders like representatives Tom Delay and John Culberson.

Teresa Doggett Taylor said she started out as a tax and agriculture lawyer and has run for public offices in the past. She said voters tend to look at candidates and see all the "fluff," but she urges them to look at their hearts instead to discover what the candidates are really about. Doggett Taylor hopes to be a unifying factor in District 10 so that Austin understands the issues in Cy-Fair and vice versa.

When the candidates - all Republicans - were questioned by members of the governmental affairs committee, answers were often very similar.

Asked what can be done about regulations that prohibit local government employees such as firefighters from also volunteering at their station, Devine said something must be done about over-regulation.

"The problem you've outlined is much broader. It's a perfect example of how regulation after regulation has amounted to obstruction," he said. "We've got to get the government off the backs of local government agencies."

What will keep them grounded in Washington, D.C., asked another chamber member. "What gives you the stability to do what you say?" he said.

Devine said hands-on, proven experience gives him his credibility. As a trial lawyer, he said he stood up to special interest groups time and time again.

"I've been in the fire. I've held firm and I've never compromised," he said.

McCaul said people need to look for character and integrity in a candidate - "without that, the candidate means nothing." He said the district needs someone who can get things done, not a "firebrand" who will polarize the people.

Phillips responded that getting things done in Washington, D.C. requires more than just looking at the local issues. One must see both the business and personal sides he said.

"I'm a very determined person," Doggett Taylor said, "and I love a challenge. I'm not doing this to be something - I already am me."

She said no special interest groups are backing her campaign and she's running solely to represent the residents in District 10.

Cheryl Salyers with Cy-Fair ISD asked the candidates where they stand on the No Child Left Behind Act.

Again, Devine described it as "burdensome regulations" and called for local control of the schools. He said teachers should be allowed to teach without worrying about so much paperwork.

Phillips and McCaul both agreed with Devine. McCall added that he believes the schools do need standards.

Doggett Taylor said the act was an attempt to be compassionate gone awry.

"I think what happened is, instead of making this informative, they made it regulatory," she said.

Other Republican candidates for District 10 include John Kelley, Brad Tashenberg, Ben Streusand and Pat Elliott. There are no Democratic candidates running for this office. The Texas Primary Election is March 9.